Fracture apparatus.



PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

S. G. HUBBELL. FRAGTURE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 16,1906. A

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

' s. HUBBELL. FRACTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APELI'Q-IUOB,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907.

S. G. HUBBELL. FRAGTURE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APB.16,1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Nd-848,173. PATENTED MAR. 26,1907.

s. G. HUBBELL.

FRAGTURE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED APR.16,1906.

4SEEETSSHEET 4.

SAMUEL c. HUBBELL, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

FRACTURE APPARATUS-.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented Maren 26, 1907.

Application filed 'April 16, 1903. Serial No: 311.822. 7

'1'0 on whom it may congern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL G. HUBBELLL, residing in Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have inl vented new and'useful Improvements in Fracture Apparatus, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification;

Itis the object of this invention to make extension or flexion of the extremities of. the human body, so as to overcome the overriding of fractured or diseased bones caused by the contraction of powerful muscles, in order that permanent fixed dressings may be aplied to maintain the fractured or diseased ones in their normal anatomical relation.

To attain the objects of my invention, I have devised a' machine or apparatus by means of which the legs of a patient may be fastened to the apparatus and extended or flexed or extended and flexed in any direc tion at the pleasure of the operator and definite traction made upon the fractured or dis-.

eased fragments of bone or bones.

In the accompanying drawings- I have shown an apparatus embodying my invention in the best way now known to me; but I contemplate various other applications and also changes in the details of construction of the apparatus, some of which would obviously suggest themselves to a skilled physician or surgeon or to a person'versed in the science and artof medicine and surgery.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the apparatus herein a described, its partsand combinations of parts,

and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate t e same parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side. elevation of a surgical apparatus embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the plane of line 3 3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the plane of line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view, in end elevation, of thesliding connection for the adjustable shoulder-rest. Fig. 6 is a similar view thereof in side elevation with the guide sectioned.- Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of one of the foot-supports and its associated parts. Fig. 8 is a sectional end elevation thereof on the plane of line 8 8 of Fig.

depending threaded projections 16 at the front end of the frame with nuts 17 threaded thereon and provided with swiveled wrenchhandles 18, by which they may be turned to force toothed washers 19 against the under side of the table edge.

The contracted rear end of the frame 15 is provided with a longitudinally extending grooved guide'20, in which is slidably mounted the flanged base 21 of a shoulder-rest 22, which stands some distance above the top of the table and is capable of longitudinal adjustment by reason of the sliding connection of its base.'

At the front end of the frame is a grooved guide 23, Within which a flanged'base 24 is slidably mounted, there being a spring-bolt 25 on the base to enter openings 26 of the port post 28 is provided at an intermediate portion with a horizontal rearwardly-extending pubic-support plate 30.

On either side of the guide 23 the frame is provided with a disk-shaped boss 31, through which is passed a bolt 32, having alarge knurled nut 33, threaded thereon and bearing upon a cup-shaped member 34 to clamp it to the boss. The cup-shaped member is provided with a downwardly-extending annular flange 35, fitting Within a corresponding groove in the surface of the boss 31.' The bolts 32 are vertical, so that the movements of the members 34 thereon are in a horizontal plane and each of said members is provided with a pair of vertically-arranged disks 36, with a third disk 37 pivotally mounted between them on a horizontal bolt 38, having I a knurled hand-nut 39, so that the interme- .36 and 37.

joints permitthe extens1on-rods to be locked in their various vertical and lateral adjustments. The extension-rods 40 may be made of straight tubing or rods in one piece or in sections secured together, as desired.

On each of the extension-rods 40 is slidably fitted a foot-bracket 41, whose sleeve or bearing for the extension-rod is partially, split with its parts connected by a clampingscrew 42, so that the foot-bracketmay' be fixed in its longitudinal and radial adjustments on the extension-rod. Each footbracket 41 forms an elongated nut 43 at its upper end to receive a screw-spindle 44, which is threaded therein and arranged parallel with the extension-rod. The sc'rew spindle has a hand-wheel 45, fixed on its front end, by which it may be turned in the nut 43'to feed nearer to or farther from the pelvic post 28. At the other end of the screw-spindle is a flat'head 46, against which bears a flanged bushing 47, loosely mounted on an unthreaded portion of the screwspindle. A tubular sleeve on casing 48 surrounds the screw-spindle with its ends loosely fitting on the flanged bushing 47 and in an annular (groove in the hand-wheel and is rovide with a slot in its under part through which the foot-bracket 41 passes and is free to travel from one end of the screw-spindle to the other. 1 A foot-support 49 is provided with an an nular flange 50 on one face to surround the head 46 of the screw-spindle and the flange of the bushing 47, and a collar 51, which loosely fits on the end of the tubular casing 48, overlaps said flange and is rigidly secured thereto, there being a set-screw 52 in the collar for engaging the tubular casing and looking the foot-support in its upright position or in any angular position to which it may be turned by reason of its swivel connection with the tubular casing. The foot-support is provided with aprojecting heel-rest 53 for su porting the patients foot and is also provi d with slots 54, through which straps or bandages may be passed for securely fastening the patients foot thereto.

By turning the hand-wheel 45 to the right or left the screw-spindle 44 is fed through the nut 43, so as to cause the foot-support to move toward or away from the pelvic post, the tubular sleeve moving therewith without turning and serving to rigidly hold the footsupport in its adjusted angular position, against turning and also preventing the screw-spindle from becoming caught in bandages or other windings and the like during The clamping-screws of these the operation. The hand-wheels 45 are'pro I vided with squared projections 61, to which 'mounted on bases 56, with rod-sections 57 telescoping therewith and pivotally connects ed to the sleeves of the foot-brackets 41,there being adjustable stops 58 slidably mounted When it is desired t-ochange the whileliftingthe rod section '57 from the tubular section 55 of ,the ,extensibl'e supports. When the desired position is attained, the clamping-screw 39 is tightened and the stop 58 is adjusted to its new position. Preferably the extension-rod is slightly raised be fore fixing the position of the stop 58, so as to put the parts under tension and more rigidly bind them against accidental movement. In

order that the extensible supportsmay be' readily detached when desired their pivotal connection with the foot-bracket is made by means of a slotted car 59 on the sleeve of the universal joints and are capable of radial and.

longitudinal adjustment thereon with clamping-screws 64 for clamping their split parts against the extension-rods to bind them in their adjustments. vided with a sleeve 65 at one side thereof and in a plane at right angles thereto, through which is slidabl adjustable a stem 66, carrying a U-shaped nee-rest 67,' the adjustments of the stem 66 being fixed by means of a set-- screw 68.

In the use of this apparatus the patient is positioned thereon in such a manner that the head rests upon apillow placed upon a box or other elevation on the table, the shoulders lie upon the shoulder-rest 22, and the remainder of the trunk or torso rests upon the pubicsupport' plate, the vertical post 28 of which is continued upward from the horizontal plate upon which the pelvis is supported the legs Each sleeve 63 is pro-' IOO storing their normal relation. This The apparatus is so designed that when a human being is made to lie upon the pelvic support and shoulder-rest the trunk or torso is held in. a straight line, bringing the transverse axis of the human pelvis at a right angle with a line drawn from the center of the forehead or bridge of the nose to the sym hysis pubis, or middle of pubic bone, enabling the operator to make accurate measurements of the two legs.

Where traction by means of extension is used, the elvic-support post presses against the symphysis pub1s or pelvic arch at its middle portion, and about this post as a pivotal point extension is made from one foot-support to the other'by turning one of the screwspindles, or, when the patient is in a conscious state one foot-support may be used as a compression side to be pressed upon by the sound-leg, lessening the pull-or pressure on the pubic bone by the traction or extension I made on the other or affected side.

' In treating different conditions the extension-rods 40 are required to be in different positions in order to exert traction upon the fractured parts in the proper direction for re is freely accomplished by reason of the ad ustable universal-joint connection of the extensionrods which enables them to be moved to any desired angle with relation to each other and with relation to the trunk of the body. It will be seenthat by the use of'this apparatus the leg or extremity of the human body can be held, adjusted, or carried in any directiondesired bythe operator or surgeon, rendered necessary by the character of the fracture or deformity and that accurate reposition of fr cuts of fractured bones may be made an deformities corrected,

When it is desired to secure the patients foot in any fixed position against torsional movement, the foot-support may be turned on the tubular 48 to the desired axial position and locked inits adjustments by tightenin the set-'screw'52. "lhe knee-rests 67 may a so hold the patients knee in such positions as desired by locking. them in the required position and bandaging or strapping the legs t ereto.

By the use of this apparatus it is possible not only to bring fractured or diseased bones or fragments ones into apposition or into their anatomical or normal relation to each other, but that the fractured or diseased bones can be andare held immovable at the will of the operator until fixed or immovable dressings or bandagesor splints are applied tothe injured or diseased extremity, thereby preventing recurrence of the deformity or misplacement of the fractured bone or bones durin the application of the fixed or permanent ressing or bandages or splints or retentive appliance used in the discretion of the operator.

moving toward or away from the pelvic-support post.

2. n a device of the character described, a frame, a pelvic-support post mounted thereon, an extension-rod pivotally connected to the frame, a bracket adjust-able on the extension-rod, a foot support mounted on the bracket, and a screw for moving the foot-support toward orvaway from the pelvic-support 0st. P 3. In a deviceof the character described, a frame, a pelvic-support post mounted thereon, a pair of extension-rods pivotally connected with the frame, and foot-supports on the extension-rods capable of being fed toward or away from the pelvic-support post.

4. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pelvic-support post mounted thereon, a pair of extension-rods having universaljoint connections with the frame, and footsupports on the extension-rods adapted to be fed toward-or away from the pelvic-support post.

5. In a device of the character described, a frame, means on the frame for holding a human body in osition, a pair of extensionrods connected to the frame and ca able of movement in vertical and horizontaFplanes, and foot-supports carried by the extensionrods, one of said foot-supports being capable of forcibly moving toward or away from the frame.

6. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pelvic-support post mounted thereon, a pair of extension-rods pivotally connected with the frame, and foot-supports adjustably mounted on the extension-rods and being capable of forcibly moving towardor away from the pelvic-support post.

7. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pelvic-support post mounted thereon, a pair of extension-rods having universal connection with the frame, foot-brackets adjustably mounted on the extension-rods, a screw-spindle threaded through each footbracket, and a foot-support carried by each screw-spindle, said screw-spindles serving to feed the foot-supports toward or away from the pelvic-support post.

8. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pelvic-support post mounted thereon, a pair of extension-rods having universal connection with the frame, foot-brackets adjustably mounted on the extension-rods, screw-spindles threaded in the foot-brackets, a slotted tubular casing surrounding each screw-spindle with the foot-bracket passing through the slot thereof, and a foot-support carried by the screw-spindle adapted to be port post by the turning of the screw-spindle.

forced toward or' away from the pelvic=support post by the turning of the screw-spindle.

9. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pelvic support post mounted thereon, a pair of extension-rods having universal connection with the frame, brackets adjust ably mounted on the extension-rods, screwspindles threaded through the brackets, a slotted tubular casing surrounding each screw-spindle and mounted to move longitudinally therewith, the bracket slidable inthe slot thereof preventing rotation of the tubular casing, and afoot-support adjustably swiveled to the tubular casing and adapted to be moved-toward or'awayfrom the pelvic-sup- In a device of the character described, a fra e, a pelvic-support post mounted there n, a pair of extension-rods having universal connection with the frame, a bracket adjustably mounted on each extension-rod,

' a headed screw-spindle threaded through the bracket, a hand wheel on the screw-spindle by which it maybe turned, a flanged bushing on the screw-spindle, a slotted tubular casing surrounding the screw-spindle with the bracket passing through the slot, one end of the tubular casing fitting in a groove of the hand-wheel and the other end-thereof fitting on the flanged bushing, afoot-supportreceiving the head of the screw-spindle, a collar on the foot-support fitting on the tubular cas I ing, and a set-screw on the collar engaging the tubular casing for holding the foot-support in its angularadjustments, the footsupport being movabletoward or away from the pelvic-support post by the turning of the screw-spindle. Y

11. In a device of the character described, a frame, a pelvic-support post mounted thereon, extension-rods pivotally connected to the frame, foot-supports on the extensionrods adapted to be forced toward or away' from the pelvic-support post, and extensible supports for the extension-rods comprising i telescopic sections connected with the footto the frame, foot-supports mounted on the extension-rods and adapted to be forced toward or away from the pelvic-support post, and extensible supports for the extensionrods comprising telescopic sections pivotally connected with the foot-supports with means for. locking them in their adjustments, the

pivotal connection between the extensible supports and the foot-supports being of a hat pin-and-slot construction by which the extensible supports may be quicklydisconnected when in a position approximately parallel with the extension-rods.

1 3. In a device of the character described,

pressed bolt on the base of the anges fitting in corresponding seats in i cup-shapedv members with disks on the ends of the extension-rods therebetween and piv otally' mounted on horizontal clampingscrews assing therethrough.

14. n a device of the character described, a frame, a pelvic-support post adjustably movable on the frame, extension-rods pivotally connected to the frame, and foot-su ports on the extension-rods adapted to e forcibly moved toward or away from the pelvic-support post, the movements of the pelvic support post on the frame being toward or away from the foot-supports.

15. In a device of the character described, a frame having a grooved guide, a pelvicsupport post having a flanged base slidably fitting in the guide of the frame, a spring pelvic-support post adapted to GHtGI OPGIIIILgS in the frame for lockmg the pelvic-support post in its adjustments, said pelvic-support fpost having a slotted end fitting'in a socket o the base with the slot receiving a stationary pin to prevent the post turning, a pubic-support plate carried by the pelvic-support post, extension-rods pivotally connected to the frame, andfoot-supports on the extension. rods adapted to be forcibly .moved toward or away from the pelvic-support post.

16. In a device of the character described,

a frame, a shoulder-rest mounted thereon, a

pelvic-support post carried by the frame, "extension-rods pivotally connected with theframe, and foot-supports on the extensionrods adapted to be fedtoward or away from the pelvic-support post.

17. In a device of the character described, a frame, a shoulder-rest slidable on the frame, a pelvic-support post mounted on the frame, extension-rods pivotally connected with the frame, and foot-supportscarried by the extension rods and adapted to be forcibly moved toward or away from the pelvic-support post r In a device of the character described, a frame adapted to rest on a table and be clamped thereto a shoulder rest slidably mounted on the frame, a pelvicsupp'ort post ad justably mounted on the frame, extensionrodspivotally connected to the frame, and foot supports carried by the extensionrods and adapted to be forcibly moved toward or away fromthe pelvic-support post.

19; In a device of the character described, for the extension-rods, and adjustable kneea frame having means for clam ing it on to rests adjustably mounted on the extensionof a. table, an adjustable shou der-rest. slidrods. able on the frame, a pelvic-support post ad In testimony whereof I affix my-signature 5 justably mounted on the frame, extensionin presence of two witnesses.

rods having universal connections with the frame on either side of the pelvic-s11 port I SAMUEL HUBBELL' post, brackets adjustably mounted on t e eX- Witnesses: tension-rods,'screw-operated foot-supports A. L. MORSELL,

10 carried by the brackets extensible supports ANNA F. SOHMIDTBAUER. 

